For women, by women, the female-founded, UK-based, B Corp brand, Stripe & Stare has launched four new bra shapes — and it’s something Co-Founder and Creative Director Katie Lopes has been working on for nearly two years, with extensive research, development, and testing.
“I spent 10 years researching and developing the perfect knickers – developing the fit, the fibers used, every detail. We really aim for this level of research when we launch a new product so spent several years working on the development of bras that would be just as comfortable as our knickers and the perfect go-withs.”
The founder’s go-to? “My personal favorite is The Smooth Sculpt which was the most requested new shape by our customers, followed by The Lace Plunge which gives such a lovely lace detail and pulls you together. None of our bras have underwire – we wanted to stay true to our comfort value and felt using wires in our bras would compromise this” says Katie Lopes.
The new collections consist of The Smooth Sculpt Padded Bra, The Lace Plunge Bra, The Lace Square Bra, and The Scoop Bra joining the already established T-Shirt Bra, Lace Bralette, and Cut Out Bralette, in inclusive sizes. After all, we all come in different shapes and sizes, whether you prefer maximum coverage with a high rise or something skimpier, Stripe & Stare has something for you. Your everyday essentials are covered in colorways, from classic black and sand, as well as signature playful contrasts, and vibrant shades.
On colors and detailing Katie says, “We took some of our most popular colors from basic black, sand, and pink, to some signature S&S fun pops of colors such as midnight neon trims and raspberry.”
At Stripe & Stare, they pride themselves on responsible sourcing, using Tencel MODAL fibers, which are derived from sustainably sourced, regenerated trees. This innovative material is not only scientifically proven to be twice as soft as cotton but also naturally breathable and moisture-wicking. With comfort at the heart of this label, the new bras have no underwire and are made with their signature, breathable, soft as-cloud Tencel fibers.
On materiality, Lopes shares, “It is very hard to make sustainable bras as they have many components and the technology in fibres is not there yet for biodegradability in elastanes which underwear needs for the stretch. We use our signature Tencel in the body of the bras so the same super soft and biodegradable fibres as our knickers and made in accredited factories. We are always on the hunt for the latest technology in fibers and working on being as sustainable and at the forefront of sustainable underwear.”
More on Tencel
As the brand says, “We made the decision to use only Lenzing fibers in our range. There were many reasons for this, the most fundamental is that we trust Lenzing and their sustainable, transparent practices above all others. The sustainable market is a minefield but all our research has led us to believe Lenzing practices are the best out there. They come out on top in all research – it is not just us saying this – they are certified by Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Fairtrade, FSC, and European Ecolabel.
Tencel is the brand name owned by Lenzing and the fiber 95% of our Stripe & Stare products are made from. It is a modal fiber made in an integrated production process in Austria. It is made from cellulose, or wood as you and I know it. All the raw wood material is sourced from sustainably managed, unprotected, regenerated sources. The raw pulp is manufactured at the same carbon-neutral site as the fiber. 100% of the raw material is converted into cellulose as well as other biobased products such as chewing gum and vinegar – there is no waste.
Lenzing fibers are compostable and biodegradable. Furthermore, they use 95% less water in production than cotton. The garments themselves have a long-lasting softness, are efficient at moisture management, and are certified for use next to the skin of newborn babies. The fibers are scientifically proven to be 2-3 times softer than cotton.”
